11-month-old tests positive for COVID-19, Orange County health official says

Cases of coronavirus in county climbs above 200

FILE - This Friday, March 20, 2020 file photo shows a closed sign near an entrance to a playground at an elementary school in Walpole, Mass., amid the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak. Child welfare agencies in the U.S. have a difficult mission in the best of times, and now they're scrambling to confront new challenges during the coronavirus outbreak. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) (Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved)

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – An 11-month-old child has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, Orange County health officials said in a news conference Saturday.

Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings addressed press and his constituents around 3:30 p.m., saying the county was doing its best to test those who believe they have symptoms of the virus, adding the illness does not discriminate by age.

No other details were released on the child’s condition or how they might have become infected.

As of Saturday morning, the Florida Department of Health reported Orange County currently has 206 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 41 patients hospitalized due to the illness.

Apart from an update in cases, the mayor also announced LYNX will also reduce service and he has closed a majority of Woman, Infant and Children offices Monday. Only five WIC offices will remain open until further notice.

The WIC Call Center will stay operational, those who utilize the service can call 407-858-1494.

Mayor Demings has asked residents to take the stay-at-home order seriously for the safety of the community and those who have questions about the pandemic can call 311.

Orange County Sheriff John Mina expressed his concern that some people were not heeding the warning to stay home.

“We responded to a large party of about 30 people in a warehouse and had to disperse them,” he said. “We also responded to a number of businesses who are not essential and were in violation of the order, and they were forced to shut down.”

During an earlier news conference with Gov. Ron DeSantis, the governor said Floridians would receive a message to their cell phones about COVID-19.

The message read:

“FL Surgeon Gen: Stay home if 65= or have medical conditions. All follow social distancing.”

More than 3,800 have been afflicted with COVID-19 and another 56 have died from the virus, according to new numbers released by the Florida Department of Health Saturday morning.

About the Author:

Erik Sandoval joined the News 6 team as a reporter in May 2013. He is one of the station’s lead reporters.
During his time at News 6, Erik has covered several major stories, including the 2016 Presidential campaign. He was also one of the first reporters live on the air at the Pulse Nightclub shooting.